The Boss Assignment (Rogue Protectors Book 3) by Victoria Paige (red scrolls of magic txt) 📗

not my purview, anyway. Though I have connections to people who would love to throw you into jail. I just want you to return my asset.”

“Dr. Bennett is a person, not property.”

Garrison sighed. “Let’s skip the semantics. You know what I’m referring to. Human asset.” His eyes went to Charly. “Are you okay, Dr. Bennett? I hope Mr. Andrade has treated you well.”

“She’s fine!” Antonio’s hackles rose.

“I want assurance from the Doctor’s own words if you don’t mind,” Garrison countered. “And please let her go.”

He realized he had a death grip on Charly’s arm and loosened his fingers, hoping she wouldn’t step away from him. She did. Inside Antonio, something roared for him to snatch her back and get her as far as possible from the CIA man, but he kept his hands by his sides, balling them into fists.

“I’m okay. I’m being treated well.”

“Is it true Mr. Andrade abducted you from the Alcantara plantation?” Martinez asked.

“He rescued me along with Migs and Ariana Walker from Benito Carillo.”

“That’s not my question, Dr. Bennett. Did he or did he not force you to board the plane at the Alcantara’s airfield? At gunpoint.”

“He didn’t point the gun at me,” Charly whispered. She was staring at the table, not looking at anyone.

“You went willingly on the plane?”

Charly glanced at Antonio.

“Don’t look at him, Dr. Bennet,” Martinez said. “Look at me. Tell us the truth. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

Damn Martinez, but Antonio couldn’t stand the indecision on Charly’s face. Their beginning wasn’t ideal, and he didn’t regret his actions that brought her to Rio, but with his next words he might lose her. “Tell them the truth, Charly. It’s okay.”

She faced the room, eyes directed at Garrison. “He tossed me over his shoulder to board the plane. But he didn’t hurt me physically. After we found out that Pierre was infected, I willingly stayed in Rio to help him find ways to fight the Z-9 series virus.”

“And have you made headway?” Garrison asked.

“I have the template to make the antiviral and the candidate vaccine … both looked promising when I was at Carillo’s.”

“Ariana said you never gave her the virus.”

“I didn’t. We only had the ones from the CDC and Carillo wasn’t willing to risk growing more in the lab he provided. But I am growing the virus in the cell lines Antonio provided. I’m going to try to introduce the antiviral now.”

“Can we transport it?” Garrison asked. “If we have a bio-controlled case?”

“It’s possible.”

“You’re not taking her research,” Antonio snapped. “And it’s the property of Andrade Industries. We had a deal.”

“Was that before or after you took Dr. Bennett out of the country,” Garrison said. “The deal was she was to continue her work in the BSL-4 lab in LA.”

“Can I not continue my work here?” Charly asked.

“That would make sense,” Martinez cut in. “We might have our own outbreak. We need all the help we can get.”

“It appears the intent of the virus mutation was a reduction in its r-naught,” Charly said, then glancing at the BOPE officer, she clarified. “Its transmission capability.”

“That’s what your Dr. Leigh was trying to achieve in the lab,” Antonio said.

“Yes.”

Garrison said, “I’d rather not discuss the details here. No offense, Martinez, but I don’t think this room is secure.”

“So why were we brought here?” Antonio asked. “Why not avoid all the drama and give us a call that you’re back in the game?”

“What, so I can give you a chance to hide Dr. Bennett?” Garrison derided. “Does he know you’ve been working for us, Charly?”

Back in the lab, Andrade already had a suspicion when he asked her about August Leigh, but it still roiled his gut to hear Garrison confirm this and he couldn’t help glaring at Charly who did her best to avoid his eyes. Still, his anger at the CIA for leaving Charly stranded with the cartel eclipsed his initial response, and he turned his displeasure back at Garrison.

“Yes, let’s talk about that, shall we?” Antonio snarled. “How the CIA left her at the mercy of a brutal cartel. If it wasn’t through her own grit and brains, I doubt she would have survived that. And yet, Carillo managed to hurt her—” His blood boiled just thinking of what that motherfucker could have done to her. “So, don’t give me shit about hiding her from the likes of you.”

“Carillo hurt you?” Garrison asked Charly.

“Does it matter now?” she asked. “I survived and Benito Carillo is in prison. But the CIA better get their shit together because if that’s how your agency runs things—”

“Those CIA officers are off the case,” Garrison cut in. “They fumbled the intel and they lost track of you.”

“You can say that again,” Charly mumbled before finally giving Antonio her eyes. “I was told that one of the bidders on the virus was linked to your shell company.”

“That was Nico. We wanted to send out feelers,” Antonio said. Charly didn’t really betray him, right? She just omitted the truth, and yet he couldn’t help feeling a little deceived. “And I thought I was the one killing two birds with one stone when I rescued you.”

“Rescued?” Garrison laughed incredulously. “It was our men who took risks. Our men who almost got blown to bits. We were the ones who had to dodge the Mexican Army on foot because your so-called allies were shit.”

“Their hands were tied”

“No, Andrade. The PNO sold you out,” Garrison informed him. “And do you know why?”

“Why don’t you tell me?” he invited testily.

“Because they know you’re wavering on your alliance and, if you get your new products on the U.S. market, your plan will include dropping them.”

“They still lose if I die. I’m the only one standing between the board and my alliance with them.”

“And you trust everyone in your company, right? Unless you forget Pierre Hudson was involved with Miss Gallo.”

“You will never convince me that Renata is at the bottom of this.”

“Oh, she’s involved.”

“That’s bullshit,” Martinez cut in. “Renata may be many things but